Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 2657 = St XIII-43 on 7 Mar 1885. His position matches UGC 4573. This is one of the last few galaxies discovered by Stephan, along with NGC 2657 and NGC 3007 9 days later.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, round, weak concentration. Forms the vertex of a right triangle with a mag 12 star 2' SSW and a mag 13 star 3' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb